What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Octocrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzophenone-3, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Methylparaben, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Citral
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
PEG-15 Cocamine
EmulsifyingPEG-75 Propylene Glycol Stearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Stearyl Behenate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cocoglycerides, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-15 Cocamine, PEG-75 Propylene Glycol Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Water, Sodium Benzoate, Stearyl Behenate, Triethanolamine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
